Jordan

The
Dead Sea

This inland sea is around
60km long and some 12km wide. On one side is Israel and the Palestinian
West Bank, and on the other is Jordan. Most remarkably it is 410m below
sea level. This makes the Dead Sea the lowest place on Earth and it also
gives it a much better climate than Amman which is a mere 70km away in
the mountains.

Although the Jordan River
runs in and out of the Dead Sea, evaporation gives it such a high salt
content (30%) that it is possible to float in it - in fact it is impossible
to sink and very difficult to swim. The black, greasy mud of the Dead
Sea is so full of minerals that it is considered beneficial for a wide
variety of ailments. Dead Sea health products are marketed all round the
world.

Although many visitors travel
from the capital, Amman, we approached from the south on the road that
runs from Aqaba along the Jordan valley. The view gradually changed from
desolate desert scenery in the south to lush green farms as we approached
the Dead Sea. The only things that marred the outlook were the mineral
works near the aptly named Potash City.

We stopped near the southern end of the Dead Sea to photograph 'Lot's
Wife', a rather uninteresting vertical rock on a cliff top supposed to
represent the outcome of the Old Testament story where Lot and his wife
fled Sodom prior to its destruction (and that of Gomorrah) and were told
by an angel not to look back. Lot's wife disobeyed this instruction and
was turned into a pillar of salt. The stop did, however, give us our first
close look at the Dead Sea (picture right) which was bright blue and amazingly
beautiful.

Mineral works near Potash City

Lot's wife

Salt deposits on the cliffs

Eventually we arrived at the Dead Sea Resort, a collection of hotels
- some still under construction - at the north-east of the Sea. Almost
the first thing we did was head for the small, stony beach in the grounds
of our hotel. Although I am not at all happy in water, and cannot swim,
I couldn't travel to the Dead Sea and not try out its unique feature.
Assisted by our Tour Manager, Mike, I nervously entered the water until
it was about thigh high. He then lowered me backwards so that I was horizontal
and sure enough I floated. I was not prepared for the need to balance
- I had a tendency to roll sideways. After the obligatory photograph (see
below), I tried to get up, but this was more difficult than it seemed.
I could put my feet on the ground, but as soon as I tried to put my hands
down, the bouyancy was such that my feet lifted off the sea bed. With
Mike's help I got up, relieved but pleased, and adorned myself with some
of the health-giving mud. Julie had a turn at floating and then we headed
for the shower (actually more of a hose) to clean the mud off.

After our whistle-stop tour of Jordan, the Dead Sea was a most relaxing
place. We spent the early evenings admiring the amazing sunsets and drinking
cola in the cool open air until the outdoor bar shut.